Perfection of the M1888 rifle turned thoughts toward a carbine. In 1889
the experimental guns were simply cut-down rifles, with the weak dropping
bar lock, but only a few were made. This weapon introduced the straight-pull
bolt with rotating head to the Austro-Hungarian Service in 1890. Although
Mannlicher had introduced a rotating straight pull bolt in 1884 it was
not very successful, and it was never made in quantity.

The bolt is of two-piece design
with the bolt handle and bolt body are one piece; mounted within the bolt
body is the bolt shaft or bolt cylinder. The locking lugs are mounted on
the head of the bolt cylinder and the bolt cylinder rotates within the
bolt body during the locking and unlocking process. This bolt is used with
all the later Austrian straight-pull bolt-action Mannlichers and, since
it provides for frontal locking, is considered to be a stronger system
than that of the Models 84, 86, and 88. The magazine system adopted with
the M1886 is used in the M1890 carbine and the later rifles.

Original quadrant sight graduated 500-2100 schritt

Altered quadrant sight graduated 500-1800 schritt?

The receivers were marked
with 'OE WG STEYR' and the Austrian Eagle as shown. Acceptance dates can
be found as late as 1912
The new action reverted to the helically-grooved bolt head system of
Mannlicher's first straight-pull action, patented in 1884, as this had
proved much stronger than the bar-lock. The M1890 cavalry carbine embodied
a much shorter action than its predecessors, allowing the trigger guard
to flow straight into the magazine casing and the cocking piece lay almost
directly above the trigger.

The original cocking piece shown
on the left is round. Later models have a thumb-shaped cocking piece, similar
to the M.95's. The older cocking pieces were gradually replaced with the
newer ones in the armories when the M90's went in for repair.

The M1890 carbine had a one-piece
walnut stock with a simple nose cap without a bayonet lug or stacking hook.
The gun has no handguard and the sling swivels are mounted on the left
side of the fore-end and stock-wrist.

The buttstock had a cleaning
equipment compartment with a sliding cover in the buttplate.

During WW1 socket type Ersatz bayonets were
used

Some carbines were converted to the M95 pattern and to the 8x56R caliber
during the 1930's. The weapons converted in Hungary carry an 'H' mark on
the top of the chamber (M90/31).
Austrian converted guns were stamped with an 'S' (M90/30).
An original unconverted M1890 is a relatively rare piece.

MANNLICHER Model 1890 Gendarmerie Carbine

105,000 carbines and Stutzens were made combined
The Gendarmerie [Csendorsegi] (Country Police) Carbine, a variant of
the cavalry gun was introduced in 1892. It accepted the standard M1888
type knife bayonet. It had the bayonet lug on the right side. It did not
have a stacking hook. The gun had its sling swivels on the bottom.

Some carbines were converted to the M95 pattern and to the 8x56R caliber
during the 1930's. The weapons converted in Hungary carry an 'H' mark on
the top of the chamber (M90/31).
Austrian converted guns were stamped with an 'S' (M90/30).
An original unconverted M1890 is a relatively rare piece.

MANNLICHER Model 1890 Short Rifle

Osterreichisches RepetierStutzen M.1890Osztrak Kurtaly Puska M.1890

Another variant of the cavalry
carbine was introduced in 1894 and was adopted by the Navy. It accepted
the standard M1888 type knife bayonet. The bayonet lug was on the left
side of the nosecap and had a stacking hook on the nose cap under the barrel.
The gun had its sling swivels on the bottom. 105,000 Carbines and Stutzens
were made combined.